Brocade Communications Systems
Brocade Communications Systems, acquired by Broadcom Inc. in 2017, operates as a subsidiary contributing Fibre Channel SAN management and networking technologies to Broadcom's semiconductor and infrastructure software portfolio serving global mission-critical enterprises.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Brocade Communications Systems does
Brocade Communications Systems operates as a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) following its 2017 acquisition, contributing Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) management and data center networking technology to Broadcom's portfolio. Brocade's heritage products sit within Broadcom's infrastructure software franchise, addressing enterprise storage and mission-critical data center environments globally. The legacy Brocade business is no longer disclosed as a standalone operating entity; its technology is integrated into Broadcom's broader semiconductor and infrastructure software offerings.
Through the Broadcom parent, the company delivers semiconductors including Wi-Fi 8 system-on-chips (BCM47822L, BCM47822), industrial optocouplers, custom XPUs, and AI networking silicon, alongside infrastructure software spanning private cloud, mainframe DevOps (Team Build), cybersecurity with AI-aware data loss prevention, and Fibre Channel SAN management. Products target global organizations with mission-critical computing, networking, and storage requirements across enterprise, hyperscale, industrial, and telecommunications segments. Technical differentiation rests on proprietary semiconductor designs, deep integration with enterprise storage ecosystems, and software tightly coupled to mainframe and private cloud environments.
The business model relies on an enterprise field sales motion selling semiconductors and infrastructure software directly to large organizations, supplemented by partner channels for storage, networking, and cloud integrations. Revenue is generated through silicon unit sales, software licensing (including mainframe and private cloud), and recurring infrastructure software subscriptions. As a wholly absorbed subsidiary, Brocade Communications Systems does not publish standalone financials; its revenue and operating metrics are reported within Broadcom Inc.'s consolidated results.
Brocade Communications Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brocade Communications Systems
- Legal name
- Broadcom Inc.
- Website
- https://brocade.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Brocade Communications Systems, acquired by Broadcom Inc. in 2017, operates as a subsidiary contributing Fibre Channel SAN management and networking technologies to Broadcom's semiconductor and infrastructure software portfolio serving global mission-critical enterprises.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brocade Communications Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Data Center Networking and Semiconductor Solutions
- NAICS
- Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Backbone & Long-Haul Transport (IP/MPLS, Optical/Wavelength) (HDABALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network Interconnection & Data Center Meet-Me Services (MMRs, carrier hotels, interconnect fabrics) (HDAIAEAK), Carrier Hotels & Network-Dense Colocation (HDABACAE)
Keywords
Where Brocade Communications Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Brocade Communications Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Semiconductor Sales: Sale of semiconductors and semiconductor-based solutions including networking chips, wireless connectivity solutions, and custom XPUs for AI infrastructure
- Infrastructure Software: Infrastructure software solutions including private cloud, mainframe software, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and Fibre Channel storage area network management
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brocade Communications Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brocade Communications Systems, now a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc., historically provided and continues to supply Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) switches, directors, and management software for enterprise data centers. Following Broadcom's 2017 acquisition, Brocade's networking and SAN expertise has been integrated into Broadcom's broader portfolio of semiconductors and infrastructure software that delivers end-to-end data center connectivity, AI networking, Wi-Fi 8 wireless connectivity, private cloud platforms, mainframe software, and enterprise cybersecurity solutions for global, mission-critical organizations.
Product overview
Broadcom offers a diversified portfolio of semiconductors and infrastructure software solutions. The semiconductor portfolio includes wireless connectivity chipsets (Wi-Fi 8 SoCs like BCM47822L and BCM47822), optocouplers for industrial applications (ACNT-H313C-000E, ACPL-E85BU/ACPL-E85AU), and application development tools (Team Build for mainframe DevOps). The infrastructure software portfolio includes identity and security platforms like AgentMinder that provide AI-powered autonomous agent governance. Together, these products serve enterprise needs across networking, wireless connectivity, industrial automation, and enterprise software.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Team Build
- BCM47822L
- BCM47822
- AgentMinder
- ACNT-H313C-000E
- ACPL-E85BU, ACPL-E85AU
Companies that use Brocade Communications Systems
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Brocade Communications Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
Brocade Communications Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Brocade Communications Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cisco Systems: Largest enterprise networking and data center infrastructure vendor. Highly comparable to Brocade/Broadcom's networking, data center, and SAN connectivity offerings, with overlapping enterprise sales motion and customer base.
- Marvell Technology: Designs networking, storage, and custom silicon for data centers and carriers. Directly competes with Broadcom/Brocade in Ethernet switching, storage controllers, and custom compute silicon for hyperscalers.
- Juniper Networks: Enterprise and service provider networking vendor with overlapping routing, switching, and data center offerings. Now owned by HPE, comparable customer base and use cases to Brocade/Broadcom networking.
- Arista Networks: Specialist in high-performance data center networking switches and software. Comparable to Brocade/Broadcom's data center networking portfolio and competes for the same hyperscaler and large enterprise customers.
Emerging players
- Microchip Technology: Provider of microcontrollers, connectivity, and storage semiconductors. Tangential overlap with Broadcom's industrial and storage connectivity portfolio, particularly for Fibre Channel and embedded networking.
Broad incumbents
- NXP Semiconductors: Semiconductor vendor serving automotive, industrial, and connectivity markets. Overlaps with Broadcom's industrial and wireless connectivity silicon offerings.
- NVIDIA: Dominant AI compute and networking platform (Spectrum-X, InfiniBand, NVLink). Broad incumbent in AI infrastructure and increasingly competes with Broadcom's custom XPU and AI networking offerings.
- Texas Instruments: Large diversified semiconductor manufacturer with industrial and connectivity products. Comparable to Broadcom's industrial optocoupler and general-purpose semiconductor lines.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE): End-to-end data center, networking, and storage provider. Comparable enterprise customer base and recently acquired Juniper, intensifying overlap with Brocade/Broadcom's networking portfolio.
- Intel Corporation: Major semiconductor manufacturer with networking, storage, and data center silicon. Broad competitor across multiple of Brocade/Broadcom's end markets, including Ethernet controllers and infrastructure silicon.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brocade Communications Systems social profiles
Digital presenceBrocade Communications Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brocade Communications Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Brocade Communications Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brocade Communications Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A12 records
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brocade Communications Systems
What does Brocade Communications Systems do?
Brocade Communications Systems, now a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc., historically provided and continues to supply Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) switches, directors, and management software for enterprise data centers. Following Broadcom's 2017 acquisition, Brocade's networking and SAN expertise has been integrated into Broadcom's broader portfolio of semiconductors and infrastructure software that delivers end-to-end data center connectivity, AI networking, Wi-Fi 8 wireless connectivity, private cloud platforms, mainframe software, and enterprise cybersecurity solutions for global, mission-critical organizations.
Is Brocade Communications Systems a public or private company?
Brocade Communications Systems is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Brocade Communications Systems founded?
Brocade Communications Systems was founded in 1995. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Brocade Communications Systems based?
Brocade Communications Systems is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brocade Communications Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Semiconductor Sales are the primary driver. The others are infrastructure Software.
Who are Brocade Communications Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cisco Systems, Marvell Technology, Juniper Networks and Arista Networks. Microchip Technology is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are NXP Semiconductors, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Intel Corporation.
Does Brocade Communications Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brocade Communications Systems.
What industry is Brocade Communications Systems in?
Brocade Communications Systems's product category is Data Center Networking and Semiconductor Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABALAH, Backbone & Long-Haul Transport (IP/MPLS, Optical/Wavelength), with a secondary code of HDAIAEAK, Network Interconnection & Data Center Meet-Me Services (MMRs, carrier hotels, interconnect fabrics). Its NAICS code is 33429 and its SIC code is 3576.